Week 4 Preview

Week 4, here we come! This week brings some really interesting games, including the Clemson Florida State game. This is also the first big SEC weekend. Are we going to have some more games like Florida Kentucky, or will they be more predictable. The only way to find out is to watch the games. The Hogs have a major home game against NIU this week and need the win. I really missed going to the Razorback game last weekend (although I went to an Eric Church concert and got to see family, so I wasn’t just sitting around), so I am excited to get to see my Hogs play live under the lights on Saturday.

Notable Games
22Clemson at 1Florida State Neither of these teams have lived up to expectations so far. Florida State barely beat Oklahoma State in week one and Clemson got beat by Georgia 45-21. Jameis Winston didn’t have a great game against the Cowboys, throwing 2INTs, but that doesn’t matter. The Heisman winner is suspended for this game after an incident off the field in the Student Union in Tallahassee. The high scoring Seminoles have also only put up 37 points in each of their games so far. Clemson is really missing their playmakers from last season. A win in this game will most likely determine the winner of the ACC Atlantic division. I don’t usually like to change picks, but I think this is Clemson’s chance to finally get to the top of the ACC. I am picking Clemson by a TD or less.

Florida at 3Alabama I’m not really sure if last week’s Florida Kentucky game was due to Kentucky being good or Florida being not so good. This game should tell us. While Alabama ended up beating Southern Miss easily last week, it took the Tide a while to get going. I don’t think that should be a problem at all with the Gators. This game has a lot more meaning to Alabama. It’s possible that Florida underestimated the Wildcats, but I don’t really know if it’s possible to underestimate Alabama. ‘Bama is going to get the best out of every team they play. I don’t think the best Florida has will be enough to stop the Tide from rolling. It might be close for a little while, but the final score won’t reflect it. I am picking Alabama by 2TDs.

5Auburn at 20Kansas State (Thurs) This has the potential to be a trap game for the Tigers. I don’t think they will fall, but they need to play well. Kansas State has not looked particularly great so far and barely beat Iowa State. Auburn, on the other hand looks like a National Title contender. I expect Auburn to take down Kansas State pretty easily. Nick Marshall is going to be able to run and pass and be a challenge for the Wildcats. I really don’t think this is going to be a close game. I am picking Auburn by 15 to 20 points.

Mississippi State at 8LSU This game has upset written all over it. This SEC West division game could really hurt LSU. This will be the first real test for the Bulldogs. LSU’s offense hasn’t been that explosive so far this season and only put up 31 points on ULM last week and needed a 4th quarter comeback against Wisconsin in week one. I think Mississippi State is going to make this game very competitive, but the rush game of the Tigers is going to be too much in the end. I just hope Fournette doesn’t pull out another Heisman pose. I am picking LSU by a TD.

Virginia at 21BYU Virginia has played well in every game so far this season. They barely lost to 7UCLA in week one and beat 21Louisville last week. BYU has also looked impressive. This might be one of the most competitive games of the weekend. I’m really looking forward to it. I think this one will come down to the 4th quarter or even OT. BYU will have the home field advantage and I think that will be a huge factor because of the distance the Cavaliers have to travel. I am picking BYU by between a FG and a TD.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech This game has the potential to be another loss for the Hokies. But I think that VT will bounce back from last week’s loss to East Carolina. Georgia Tech can score, but the Yellow Jackets were very nearly beat by Georgia Southern last week. I think the Virginia Tech defense will be able to hold off GT enough to win the game, but it will go back and forth. Home field advantage didn’t help the Hokies last weekend, so I don’t think that will be much of a factor this week. The VT players are going to need to want this win so they can prove themselves to the rest of the country. I am picking Virginia Tech by about a TD.

North Carolina at East Carolina I think ECU is still going to be riding a high from last week’s win over Virginia Tech. North Carolina is coming off a bye week and an extremely close win of San Diego State. I think ECU QB Shane Carden is the real deal and will be able to get it done at home this weekend. It is very possible this game will come down to a last second play or a non-offensive score. I think this is going to be a great game. I am picking East Carolina by a FG.

Northern Illinois at Arkansas The Razorback’s next opponent are the NIU Huskies. NIU is coming off a win at UNLV that was probably a little too close for comfort for NIU fans. My biggest concern for the Hogs is the numbers UNLV put up, mainly the 397 passing yards. Arkansas is not built to throw for almost 400 yards. Luckily, the Hogs can run the ball and then run it some more. They will have to be slightly more balanced than they have been in the last two weeks, but I think NIU is a beatable team. I am not seeing them as a guarantee though. This team is going to fight hard to win. QB Drew Hare is also very good and can make those long pass plays that Arkansas has had trouble defending. Tevin Mitchell will be needed once again to help out the secondary. I really hope we get to see Brandon Allen show a little more of his improvement in this game.

Top 25
2Oregon at Washington State
4Oklahoma at West Virginia
6Texas A&M at SMU
Eastern Michigan at 11Michigan State
Troy at 13Georgia
14South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Indiana at 18Missouri
Bowling Green at 19Wisconsin
Miami(FL) at 24Nebraska

Other Games
Utah at Michigan
Rutgers at Navy
San Diego State at Oregon State
UNLV at Houston
Utah State at Arkansas State
Louisiana at Boise State
Appalachian State at Southern Miss
Georgia Southern at South Alabama